Summit great at top of hill

Sammi Wood is training on her specially-adapted bike

A Newton Stewart woman is preparing to take on the challenge of her lifetime as she climbs Cairnsmore of Fleet – something most of us could just about manage without issue.

But for 22-year-old Sammi Wood, climbing the hill in June will see her dreams come true.

Sammi had encephalitis which left her with a weakness in her left side, and she also suffers from epilepsy so has chosen to raise money for Epilepsy Scotland.

Climbing Newton Stewart’s picture-perfect hill was something she couldn’t have imagined before, and her wish to see Galloway from the summit led her to wrote a poem about her wish called ‘My Ultimate Goal’.

Family friend Robert Malcolm shared the poem online and Galloway Mountain rescue caught wind of it.

Stepping forward to offer their help, they offered to see Sammi safely to the top of the hill.

Sammi said: “It has been a dream of mine for many years now and thanks to the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team my dream is coming true.

“My training just now is cycling on my specially-adapted bike to strengthen my legs, and this weekend I cycled round the risk on Saturday and round the Wood Of Cree on Sunday.

“Soon I will be concentrating more on the walking once my legs are strong enough.”

Sponsor forms can be found in various shops in Newton Stewart – Wigtown Road Services, Cunninghams, Simpsons, the Co-Op, Chris Morris, Laura’s and Creebridge Mill Pharmacy. You can also donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/linda-wood5.